Cardboard boxes and the like



Oct. 6, 1959 R. M. THxoLAT 2,907,513,

CARDBOARD BOXES AND THE LIKE Filed June 20, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 6, 1959 R. M. THILAT CARDBOARD BoxEs AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 6, 1959 R. M. THloLAT 2,907,513

CARDBOARD BOXES AND THE LIKE Filed June 20, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United StatesPatent CARDBOARD BOXES AND THE LIKE Robert M. Thiolat, Paris, France Application June 20, 1957, Serial No. 666,903

Claims priority, application France June 25, 1956 z claims. (cl. 229-31) The present invention relates to a cardboard box or the like produced from a single blank or sheet of cardboard or other stiif foldable material, suitably cut and capable of folding. It is an object of the present iuvention to provide improved means for releasably securing `a collapsible cardboard box or the like in assembled position.

It is another object of the invention to provide the box or the like with a separate lid which is likewise produced from a single sheet of cardboard, cut out and foldable along certain lines in such a manner that it can be stored flat or can be folded to form a rigid cover or lid secured to the` body of the box or the like by securing means intended not only to secure the box in assembled position but also to secure the lid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, such securing means assume the form of locking bars of wood or equivalent material, which pivot on two opposed panels of the box and are provided with bores to receive and secure the extremities of wires depending from the lid.

In the accompanying drawings embodiments of a box according to the invention are illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a sheet, unfolded and laid llat, which is intended to produce a box with Itwo locking bars at the ends;

Fig. 2 shows the box of Fig. 1 in process of assembly;

Fig. 3 is an end-view of the above box, completely assembled, with unsecured lid above it;

Fig. 4 shows the same box, with the lid in position;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line X-X of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an end-view of a modified form of box with one single locking bar at the ends;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the liat sheet which forms the lid of the box shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 shows the same, during assembly;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view of the assembled lid in perspective, seen from beneath; and

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the theoretical structure of a locking bar.

Throughout the description it is to be understood that the sheets and folding panels are of cardboard and the securing elements of wood, but it is manifest that these may be replaced within the framework of the invention by any suitable equivalent material desired, whether natural or synthetic.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 the single sheet shown is of cardboard or equivalent material and comprises the base 1 of the box limited by the folding lines AB, CD etc., along which, when the box is being assembled, the longitudinal panels 2 and 2a and the end panels are raised, only one of these being illustrated at 3, the other end of the box being identical to this one.

Each end panel is connected to the longitudinal panels 2 and 2a by corner pockets, each comprising two panels of generally triangular form limited by the folding lines of the pocket. Thus, between the panel 3 and the panel `2, the corner pocket is formed by a panel 4 adjoining Vpressed when the ap 9 is folded over.

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the panel 2 beyond the line AE, and a panel 4 adjoining the panel '3 beyond the line AE; the panels 4 and 4 are contiguous along their common line of folding AE. Likewise, between the panel 3 and the longitudinal panel 2a, the corner pocket comprises the panels 4a and 4a, bounded by the folding lines CF, CF and CF corresponding to the lines AE, AE and AE of the first pocket. An identical system exists at the other end of the box; it would therefore appear unnecessary to burden the `drawings with illustrations thereof.

The end panel 3, in the embodiment described, is pierced by two rivets 5, 5', upon which the two halves of a locking bar 6 or 6 of light wood and of elongated shape (rectangular in the drawing but may be oval for example) are freelyrotatable. p

In addition, each of the panels of the pockets 4, 4', 4a `and 4'a is provided with a small window 20 corresponding to the shape of the locking bars. Fig. l0 shows the structure `of the two-halves 6a and 6b of a locking bar 6; the half 6a lodges in the corresponding window 20 whilst the half 6b projects beyond this and is freely rotatable on the rivet 5 as indicated by the arrows Z. rl`hus, when the box is assembled, the locking bars can enter these Windows, in each of which the portion 6a or 6a lodges, and beyond which each projecting portion 6b, 6b is rotated through 90 in order to secure each group of superimposed panels, i.e., the panels 4 and 4 upon one side of the panel 3, and the panels 4a and 4a on the other side, as shown in particular in Figs. 4 and 5. Furthermore, each locking bar is provided. with a bore 7 or 7a respectively, for securing the wires of the lid, as will be explained later.

VThe lid (see Figs. 7, 8 and 9) consists of a sheet of cardboard or equivalent material and comprises the upper lid portion 8 and panels or flaps attached thereto and suitably cut and folded.

At each end (only one is illustrated, the other being identical), a panel 9/9 is provided, forming an end wall corresponding to the panel 3 of the box, and meeting the main panel 8 along the line of folding GH. This end panel is itself divided by the line of folding IJ into two flaps 9, 9 of vthe same height, whilst, over a certain extent of the line II, a steel or brass wire is tted on the inner face of the fold. The two ends of the wire are bent oif at right-angles and pass through the cardboard, as shown in particular in Fig. 9. When the lid is placed in position, the two extremities 10', 10 of the wire engage in the bores 7, 7a of the locking bars 6, 6a and :are once again bent along these bars, as shown in Fig. 4 to secure the lid to the body of the box.

Sucient tightness and rigidity are imparted to the lid by the arrangement of lateral panels 11 and 11a which meet the main panel 8 on the lines of folding GK and HL. These panels are each extended by a two-panel pocket 12, 12 and 12a, 12a respectively, which are folded in the normal manner and each extended in turn by an end ap 13, 13a, said flaps being all compressed between the portions 9 and 9 when assembling (Figs. 8 and 9). Thus, the folding line Il (which forms, for all practical purposes, a relatively thick channel to receive the wire 10) becomes the lower edge of the end Wall of the lid when it is in position.

Fig. 8 shows only one corner of the lid (the others being identical) in the process of assembly. In particular, the end llap 13a is seen which is stapled at 13b to the panel 9, against which the triangular flaps 12a, 12a of the corresponding corner pocket are placed and com- The completed lids `can be stored, i.e. with flaps 13 and 13a stapled to the panel 9. In this case, however, to enable the lids to be stored flat, the lateral panels are folded over the main panel 8 and the flaps 12., 12a over the llaps 12, 1Za

respectively, the panels 9, 9 remaining however in the plane of the main panel 8. By this arrangement stapling at the last moment is no longer necessary. Y

In Fig. 6 a modified" embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The box is secured by one single locking bar 14 at each end. This Vbar pivots'on the A single rivet 5" of the panel 3. The `panels 4 and 4a`, corresponding' to the panels 4 and 4a of the first embodiment,v are not provided with windows, since these would serve" They are simply moved sufficiently apart1 no purpose. to enable the bar to pass between them in the vertical position during assembling, whereupon the lbar is 4rotated over them as shown in Fig. 6. The locking bar 14 is provided with two bores 14', 14 to receive the securing wires of the lid.

I claim:

1. In combination a collapsible cardboard box or the like and a separate lid therefor, Said box comprising a base, side and end Walls, two/ pockets foldable against each of said end walls and means for releasably securing said pockets against the end walls, said means comprising at least one rivet extending outwards from each end wall, and a locking bar pivotally mounted on each of said rivets, said locking bars being adjustable to secure and release said pockets, and said lid being secured on the box by lengths of wire depending from the lid and anchored -to the locking bars on the box, said locking ,bars having transverse apertures receiving the ends of said lengths of wire, which ends are subsequently bent along the locking bars to anchor them in position.

2. The combination according to claim A1, said lid being formed from a single blank and comprising a main panel, side panels and endv panels, said end panels consisting of double and, at places, quadruple thicknesses of cardboard and the depending edges of said panels having laterally spaced apertures for egress of the ends of a Wire housed within said end panels, the free Vends of said wire being anchored to the box to secure the lid in position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 329,559 Hohenstein Nov. 3, 1885 332,486 Brumby Dec. 15, 1885 1,772,255 Kondolf Aug. 5, 1930 

